Francis wants to be in World final

World and Olympic relay silver medal winner Javon Francis is aiming to be in the 400-metre final at this year's World Championships in London, England.

Francis, who was in the 400m semi-finals at the Olympics last year, said his training is going well. He revealed that his 2017 competition season will start next month.

Speaking at the launch of the second McKenley-Wint Classic yesterday, he said: "I want to make it to the final this year.

"Every time I make it to the semi," Francis remembered of his World Championships experiences in 2013, when he was a Calabar High School student-athlete, and in 2015, "but God gives everyone their chance, so I'm just going to wait on my chance to see what I can do."

While he is waiting, the 2015 and 2016 National 400m champion is working toward that goal under the guidance of Akan Track Club coach Michael Clarke.

"Training is going pretty well so far," he reported. "I'm running some decent times," he said, "and my coach is very proud of me, so I'm just going to work hard."

The 22-year-old intends to open his season on February 12.

"This year at the Camperdown Classic, I just want to go there and perform like I always do." he said.

He won the Camperdown Classic 400m in 2016 in 46.21 seconds. Trapped in the confines of Lane 1 in his Olympic semi-final last year in Rio de Janeiro, he was eliminated.

His best time of 2016 was 44.77 seconds, 0.27 off the personal best he established the previous season.